Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, August 24, 1993 TAG: 9308240781
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Doug Doughty Staff Writer
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Medium
"George [Welsh] said that we could get him back at some time," Lantz said Sunday, "but he didn't write it down and have it notarized. [Derey] has a chance to be a fine player on either side of the ball."
Derey, a former standout at Northside High School in Roanoke, practiced on both offense and defense until he was moved to tight end after a week.
"He's got such explosiveness," Lantz said. "I don't know yet what he's like as a tight end running down the field and catching passes. The first day we were in pads, they took him over [to offense] and he just came flying off the ball."
When asked if any of the newcomers had caught his eye, defensive end Mike Frederick didn't hesitate to single out Derey, who worked with the ends when he was on defense.
"He's probably the best defensive end I've seen come in here," said Frederick, a junior who is entering his third year as a starter. "If you don't hear his name in the next couple of years, I'll be very, very surprised.
"I got to watch him a lot in that first week [after the freshmen reported] and I got the impression he was doing things almost as well as we were. First year kids, they put them where they need them, but there's no question he can play defense at this level."
Derey, assigned the No.87 once worn by UVa All-American Herman Moore, was measured at 6 feet 5 inches and 238 pounds when he reported. His father, Bud, is 6 feet 7 inches tall.
"Tell him to come on up," Lantz said. "We'll use 'em both. Seriously, it looks like [Walt Derey] is going to be a big, big player. I mean, in terms of size. But, we're very, very impressed with him."
\ FRESHMAN STANDOUTS: The only first-year players on UVa's first two-deep roster, James Farrior from Matoaca and Ronde Barber from Roanoke. Farrior and redshirt freshman Greg Terry both were listed behind P.K. Killian at one of the linebacker spots; Barber and junior Andy Bell were listed behind Keith Lyle at one of the safety positions.
\ CAVS IN THE PROS: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers waived 14-year veteran Eddie Murray on Monday, leaving free agent Michael Husted from Virginia as the lone place-kicker in camp. Almost half of Husted's kickoffs the past two years were not returned [62-of-125].
Not as fortunate as Husted was free agent Don Reynolds from UVa and Laurel Park High School, who was waived by the Detroit Lions. Ed Reynolds, no relation, played in 16 games for the New York Giants but was waived in early August after 11 years in the National Football League.
\ EXTRA POINTS: Virginia had sold 23,145 season tickets through the end of last week. The school record of 24,514 was set last year, when the Cavaliers sold out for the first time. . . . Virginia has been restricted to 86 scholarships (two under the NCAA limit) as terms of its NCAA probation, but the Cavaliers have only 82 players on grant. Welsh is saving a scholarship for one of the three players who are fighting for the place-kicking job - Patrick Harkleroad, Josh Schrader or Kyle Kirkeide. . . . UVa fifth-year seniors competing as graduate students are offensive tackles Jim Reid and Bill Edwards, center Peter Collins, running back Jerrod Washington and cornerback Greg McLelland.
by CNB